Electric-lamp socket.



W. M. ELLIOTT.

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1915.

1 178,479. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

,2; i z; g A

V I]. I 2/ /Z r a 4 Witnesses lnventpr by r F 5 Attbrneys UNITED s aTEs PATENT ornioja.

WILLIAM MARTIN ELLIOTT, AUSTIN, TEXAE.

EIiEC'lRIC-LAMP SOCKET.

Application filed April 27,

- tric lampsockets, and aims to provide a novel and improved incandescent electric lamp socket having a pair of switches which are alternately closed and opened, and having means for the attachment thereto of three conductors, whereby it is possible to light the lamp by means of a main switch notwithstanding the fact that the socket switches might have been previously operated for extinguishing the lamp.

With the use of an ordinary lamp socket in a chandelier or drop light, and connected to a wall or main switch, it is frequently the case that the socket switch is operated for extinguishing the lamp, instead of employing the wall or main-switch, and this would open the socket switch, to prevent the lamp from being subsequently lighted by operating the wall or main switch. It would therefore be necessary for the person to find the socket and close the switch thereof before the wall or main switch could be operated for controlling the light. The disadvantages incident to this arrangement will be readily appreciated, and are well known.

The present invention provides means for remedying the said objectionable conditions, by the provision of a. pairof switches carried by the socket, and connected by the three wires or conductors to the main or wall switch, whereby thelamp may always be lighted by either the main switch, or the socket switches, whichever is desired.

The cardinal feature of the invention resides in the provision in alamp socket, of uni ue means for the attachment of three con uc'tors to the socket, and wherebythe conductors may be connected properly within the socket for the desired purposes.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a lamp socket having the features above noted and which will not be appreciably more expensive or complicated than the ordinary lamp socket, the improved features being comparatively simple, and being readily incorporated in present day lamp sockets.

With the foregoing and other objects in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

1915. Seria1No.24,273.

view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the 'combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment oi the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a diagrammaticalview of the socket and circuits. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the socket. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the socket taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the invention, the lamp socket comprises, as usual, a shell 1 having a cap 2, and containing the upper and lower insulating members or blocks 3 and 4, respectively, a socket member or shell 5 being secured to the lower insulating member 4.- and being adapted to receive the plug 6 of the electric lamp 7. A binding post 8 is secured between the insulating members 3 and 4 and is connected by means of a screw or other element 9 to the socket member 5. A screw or bolt 10 is engaged centrally through the lower insulating member 4, and a V-shaped spring contact 11 is secured to the lower end of the screw 10 for engaging the central contact terminal of the lamp 7 in the usual manner. Attached to the upper end of the screw 10'is an upwardly curved leaf spring 12 providing a switch or contact member. A transverse spindle 13 is journaled between the insulating members 3 and 4, diametrically of the socket, and is provided at its outer end with a finger piece l i. The spindle 18 carries a cam 15 within the chamber between the insulating members, and a' curved leaf spring 16 is secured between the insulating members remote from the free end of the spring switch 12. The free end of the leaf spring or spring switch 16 overhangs the spring switch 12 and is provided with a downturned lip or portion 17 to contact with or bear 'upon the spring switch 12 when the spring switch 16 is pressed downwardly by the cam 15.

A binding post member 18 is secured be tween the insulating members andis provided with a downturned contact finger 19 overhanging the free end of the spring switch 12 and against which the free end of -other conductor 21 is connected to the butt or basal end of the spring switch. 16, and the third conductor is connected to the binding post member 18. lhe conductor 2O has'the generator or source of electrical energy 23 interposed therein, and is connected to the main or wall switch 524; which cooperates with a pair of contacts 25 and 26 to which the respective conductors 21 and 22 are connected.

In operation, supposin the spindle 13 is swung so that the cam 1:) allows the spring switch 16 to spring away from the spring switch 12, the free end of the spring" switch 12 will'engage the contact finger if) and this will limit themovement of the spring switch 12, so that the two spring switches 12 and 16 are separated or spaced apart. Then, by operating the main or all switch 24 to engage the contact 26, the circuit through the lamp 7 will be closed, the current flowing from the generator 23 through the conductor :20, binding post 8, screw 9, socket member 5, lamp 7, spring contact 11, screw 10. spring switch 12, binding I post member 18, conductor 22, swit h 24 and back to the generator. When the switch 24 is swung away from the contact 26 into engagement with the contact the circuit will be broken or opened, to extinguish the lamp. Supposing, however. that the switch is left in engagement with the contact 2G,and the spindle 13 ot' the lamp socket is turned to cause the cam 15 to force the spring switch 16 downwardly, so as to engage the spring switch 1:2. and which will more the spring switch 12 downwardly out of engagement with the contact finger 1!), to

thereby open the circuit through the lamp for extinguishing the same, the lamp may be lighted subsequently by operating the main switch 24-. By swinging the main switch flinto engagement with the contact the current from the generator 73 will flow through the conductor 2.0, binding post screw 9 socket member 5,1amp 7, spring con tact 11, screw 30. switch member '12. switch member 16, conductor 2]. and switch 34 back to the generator. By swinging the switch 24 away from the contact the circuit will be opened. when the switch 9 flages either one of its contacts, a circuit "ough the lamp may be closed and opened by operating the spindle l -hso that t will be evident that the circuit through the lamp they be controlled by either the main or wall switch, or the socket switches. Th switches of thelain p soelret are alternately closed and opened, it icing noted that the spring switnot only serves its function as a sw' also serves as a spri 'gagenicnt oi": the sprii The main or wall sw. ch may be ore nary construction, the same only being illus trated diagraininati in the dra'w' i and itwill also be on .erstood that wi ing may be arranged properly under the various conditions, to the ends above noted.

From the foregoino, taken in connection with the drawing, it is l'aelievecl that the atlvantages and capabilities of "witch ltl.

the present invention will be obvious to those versed in the art, without "further comment being necessary.

The binding post member is prelerahly secured to the upper insulating meinher i. although it may besecuretl in any suitable manner to an approp part of the socket.

A number of the present lamp sockets may be connected in multiple with the main switch 24, whereby the main switch provides a master switch for controlling all (it-the lamp sockets, and whereby all of the lamps ay be extinguished by the main or master switch.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: y

l. in a circuit controller. a contact, a spring switch engageahle therewith. a second spring switch cngageable with the first mentioned spring switch. and means for operatii'ig the second spring switch to engage and more the first mentioned spring switch away from the contact.

2. in a lamp socket. a contact. '1 spring switch the free end of which is aoapted to bear against the contact. a second spring switch having its free end overhang ng the first mentioned spring switch to engage the same, and means for operating the second spring switch to engage and more the first mentioned spring switch away from said contact.

in testimony that l claim the it'oregoing a s my own. i have hereto attired my signature 

